Katie Holmes is reportedly planning to hold a “divorce party” later this month.
The actress filed legal papers to end her marriage to Tom Cruise on June 29 last year. It has been claimed that the star is set to mark the significant date in her life by meeting up with her closest friends this weekend. Katie is said to be eager to show pals how much they mean to her following a difficult 12 months.
“We understand she’s marking the occasion with a ‘divorce party’,” reports British magazine Grazia. “The mood will be ‘enjoyable and emotional’ with Katie wanting to thank them for their support throughout a momentous year.”
The bash is expected to be held at Katie’s favourite hotel The Jane in downtown Manhattan, New York City. Guests expected to attend include fashion collaborator Jeanne Yang, socialite Lizzie Tisch and Katie’s most recent confidante Spike Lee’s wife Tonya.
Those close to the 34-year-old say it has been “first and foremost a year of consolidation” after Katie found an apartment in New York City, appeared in a Broadway play and landed a deal with make-up giants Bobbi Brown.
She is now settled in the city with Suri, her daughter with Tom, and is slowly building a new life for herself.
However, Tom is still having an impact on her life as he wants to be closely involved with Suri’s education. Katie was apparently against her daughter attending a Scientology school, but her ex is determined that the religion should still be a factor in Suri’s life.
“She is still in a degree of conflict with Tom, for all the positive public statements, and he’s angling for Suri to have more involvement with Scientology. That’s kind of non-negotiable, but he’s so persistent it can wear you down,” a source said. “Tom let Suri attend a mainstream school so now he’s asking for a quid pro quo. He wants Suri to go to a Scientology summer camp, which is turning into a major sticking point. Katie’s not a hysterical woman, but she does sometimes worry if she’s bitten off more than she can chew. She knows what a tough adversary Scientology can be.”
While Katie appears to be moving on from her failed marriage to Tom, insiders claim she is still confused and frightened about her future. Katie has no regrets about her divorce, but reportedly sometimes misses the stability of her former life.
“Katie’s come a long way in a short period of time but, of course, it’s not all straightforward. She didn’t just leave Tom; she left a very secure situation where all her needs were taken care of. It was a stifling environment, but there’s a certain appeal to having people make your decisions for you,” a source said. “There’s been a lot of focus on the Scientology aspect of her time with Tom, and that’s been a major factor. It’s more than a religion – it’s a way of life – and stepping out of that can be daunting.”
